Non-discrimination: Additional Protocol to Human Rights Convention

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have agreed to the Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights relating to the right not to be discriminated against; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The text of a draft Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights broadening, in a general fashion, the field of application of Article 14 (non-discrimination) was transmitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe by the Steering Committee for Human Rights following its meeting on 9-10 March 2000. The Committee of Ministers has not yet considered whether to adopt the text and open it for signature.

Chechnya

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, because of the scale of civilian suffering in Chechnya, the conflict can any longer be regarded as an internal matter for Russia.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We continue to recognise Chechnya as an integral part of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has long recognised that human rights are a legitimate subject of interest to the international community. There has been international involvement in efforts to resolve the conflict in Chechnya from the outset. At the Istanbul OSCE Summit in November 1999, all OSCE states, including Russia, recognised that the OSCE had a role in assisting with a political settlement. The UK has been active in urging international involvement. Mr Putin has assured the Prime Minister that Russia will permit access to Chechnya by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR) and by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe. The visit by the UNCHR, Mary Robinson, is expected to take place on 1-4 April. Russia has also agreed to the attachment of two Council of Europe officials to the office of the ombudsman for Chechnya. They should take up their positions shortly.

Kosovo: Deployment of Police Officers

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many police officers have been sent to Kosovo (a) from the United Kingdom and (b) in total; and, if this total is less than in the undertaking given by the Foreign Secretary on 30 June 1999, why.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The United Kingdom has deployed 60 police officers to the United Nations International Police in Kosovo. Although the UN requested this be increased to 120, we are in fact increasing the contribution to 150 officers, including 20 specialists to help combat organised crime in Kosovo. In addition, the UK has contributed 40 officers to the OSCE-run school training the future Kosovo police service.
	According to figures provided by the UN on 6 April, 2,682 civilian police officers have been deployed to Kosovo by 44 countries.

Angola

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the problems of corruption and diversion of oil revenues into arms purchases rather than development in Angola wil be discussed at the European Union-Africa summit in Cairo in April.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The summit discussed the generic issue of corruption but not specifically corruption and diversion of oil revenues in Angola.

Montenegro

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the trade and economic blockade imposed by Belgrade on Montenegro is valid in international law; and whether they and their international partners will offer guarantees to protect Montenegrin autonomy and interests.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The blockade imposed on Montenegro by Belgrade includes foods and medicines. The UK condemns these destablising tactics on the part of the Milosevic regime and we and our international partners will continue to support the political and economic reforms of President Djukanovic's government.

UK Aid Budget and EU Assistance Programmes

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the United Kingdom aid budget is now spent through the European Union; and how far the political structures of the European Union help or hinder the fulfilment of the policy priorities of the Department for International Development.

Baroness Amos: Under a formula agreed in 1992, our contributions to the European Community's external assistance programmes absorb approximately 30 per cent. of the Department for International Development's budget. In December 1998, we published a strategy for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of European Community development programmes in order to increase their impact on our poverty reduction objectives. Since then, and in line with UK aims, the number of Commissioners responsible for external spending has been reduced from five to two. The successor to the Lome Convention has been agreed with a much sharper poverty focus and the Commission has tabled a draft development policy statement. Both the Development Commissioner, Poul Nielson, and the External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, have stated their commitment to poverty elimination. They and Vice-President Neil Kinnock are reviewing procedures with a view to thorough reforms. We support and encourage them to carry this through urgently.

Civil and Commercial Judgments: Proposed EC Regulation

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the vote by British Labour Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market against the proposal for a Council regulation (EC) on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters at the committee's meeting on 28th March represents government policy.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Government will take careful note of the vote by the British Labour Members of the European Parliament referred to by the noble Lord, but the position taken by Labour MEPs does not represent government policy.
	The Government support the current provision in the draft Council regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters relating to consumer transactions which was agreed by the Justice and Home Affairs Council of Ministers last May. However, if the terms of this provision are reconsidered by the Commission and other member states in the light of the forthcoming opinion of the European Parliament, the Government will do so as well, taking full accont of the responses to the consultation document on this issue which they intend to publish shortly.

Public Trust Office

Baroness Serota: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce their proposals for the reform of the Public Trust Office.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I have today published 'Making Changes--The Future of the Public Trust Office', setting out my plans for reform of the Public Trust Office.
	The Public Trust Office, an executive agency of my department, was established in 1994. It incorporates three separate functions.
	Its Mental Health Sector deals with matters under Part VII of the Mental Health Act 1983. The Sector's Protection Division oversees the activities of private receivers appointed by the Court of Protection to manage financial affairs for mentally incapacitated individuals. Its Receivership Division manages the financial affairs of mentally incapacitated people who have no one else to manage their finances. The sector also deals with matters under the Enduring Powers of Attorney Act 1985.
	The Court Funds Office is a banking and investment service for funds deposited in court. These are held under the jurisdiction of the Chief Executive of the Public Trust Office, acting as Accountant General of the Supreme Court.
	The Public Trustee acts as an executor or trustee in respect of estates and settlements.
	In November 1999, I published the quinquennial review of the Public Trust Office. I welcomed the review's clear diagnosis of the challenges faced by the Public Trust Office, agreed that radical change was required and undertook to explore the review's recommendations in a programme of change.
	The change programme for the Public Trust Office, announced today, will improve services received by clients and, in particular, the vulnerable. The Government's overriding objective will be to ensure that the interests of the Public Trust Office's clients are fully protected. The changes I propose will deliver a step-change in the quality of services. This will be achieved through centralised planning and monitoring, balanced by service delivery through those agencies which are best placed to meet the needs of clients. Where this means estabishing new partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors, we will do this. Throughout the reforms, we will target resources on those clients who are most in need.
	I will separate the disparate functions of the existing Public Trust Office, transferring the trust function and the Court Funds Office to the bodies best placed to provide them: the office of the Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court and the Court Service respectively. The office's remaining core functions of oversight of receivers and functions in relation to enduring powers of attorney will be reviewed to provide a cohesive and greatly improved service.
	I will ensure that I retain responsibility for the most vulnerable of Public Trust Office clients. There will be clear lines of ministerial accountability for those functions remaining within my department and I will establish and monitor clear standards of service provision both for those functions remaining within my department and for those services provided in future by other parts of the public sector and in the voluntary and private sectors.
	I will want to be satisfied that reform does not entail placing a greater financial burden on some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. The new regime will deliver much improved value for money. Services received will be tailored to the individual's requirements; there will be much greater advice and assistance available; and it will genuinely protect the vulnerable. A new clearer and simpler fee system will be introduced and will be backed by the introduction of fee remissions for those who cannot afford to pay for the services they receive.
	I envisage that plans for the more significant changes proposed will be taken forward during 2000-01 with the intention that the Public Trust Office would cease to exist as a separate and distinct office from April 2001 onwards.
	The change programme reforms to the Public Trust Office will also play an important part in paving the way for the Government. Making Decisions policy proposals to modernise and clarify the law governing decision-making by and on behalf of the mentally incapacitated. The Governmetn are committed to legislating on Making Decisions when parliamentary time allows, and the change programme will provide a firm basis for these reforms.
	I welcome the views of all those who wish to comment on the reforms that I propose to take forward.
	Copies of the booklet: Making Changes--The Future of The Public Trust Office have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Tax Harmonisation

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answers by Baroness Jay of Paddington on 27 March (HL Deb, cols. 525-26), whether it is possible for the European Commission to propose tax harmonisation under single market provisions; and, if so, whether the United Kingdom could be outvoted on any such measure.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Article 93 of the EC treaty allows the Council, acting by unanimity, to adopt provisions for harmonisation of indirect taxes "to the extent that such harmonisation is necessary to ensure the establishment and functioning of the internal market". Given this unanimity requirement, the UK has a veto.

Law Officers' Departments Departmental Report

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Law Officers' departments departmental report is to be published.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I can confirm that copies of my departmental report have been placed in the Libraries of the House today.

Lords Ministers: Special Advisers

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 23 March (WA 36), what are the terms of employment of the Government's special advisers working in the House of Lords.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Special advisers, including those working to government Ministers in the House of Lords, are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. A copy of the contract has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Gulf War Veterans: Epidemiological Study

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence apart from death certificates was used for the mortality section of the epidemiological study into morbidity and mortality of Gulf War veterans conducted by Professor Nicola Cherry of Manchester University.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The evidence used for the Manchester University mortality study is a matter for the researchers. The sources used will be detailed in a paper which has been accepted for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal. The Ministry of Defence has assisted the research team by providing relevant personal and service data and information held about deaths.
	In addition, because the Ministry of Defence is routinely informed only about deaths that occur in service, special arrangements have been made with the Office of National Statistics to gather comprehensive information about the deaths of Gulf veterans and a randomly selected control group who were in service on 1 January 1991 but did not deploy to the Gulf. This information is shared with the research team at Manchester University.

BMW and Rover

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 29 March (WA75) about the losses incurred for BMW by the Rover Group, what were the total sales of Rover cars and of other products of the Birmingham plant in each year from 1995 to 1999; and, of the totals, how many were sold abroad.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The total sales of cars (Rover 25, 45, Mini and MGF) originating from Rover's Longbridge Plant (Birmingham) were:
	1995: 367,532
	1996: 382,035
	1997: 392,972
	1998: 334,242
	1999: 251,157.
	BMW/Rover was unable to provide us with figures for Longbridge vehicles sold abroad. However, the sales/export figures for Rover Group cars (including Land Rovers) are:
	
		
			 Year Total sales units Exports % (approx.) 
			 1995 483,100 237,500 49 
			 1996 507,250 277,000 54 
			 1997 521,100 290,000 55 
			 1998 487,700 277,200 56 
			 1999 429,157 248,442 57

CJD: Transmission

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 27 March (WA 59), what is the "strong epidemiological evidence to suggest that classic CJD is not transmitted through blood"; which of the many variants of "classic CJD" this evidence applies to; and whether they will place copies of the relevant papers in the Library of the House.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The following, peer reviewed articles, relate to this subject and will be placed in the Library:
	T F G Esmonde et al, 1993, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and blood transfusion, Lancet 341; 205-207;
	P Brown, 1995, Can Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease be transmitted by transfusion?, Current Opinion in Haematology, vol 2, pp 472-477;
	C M van Duijn et al, 1998, Case-control study of risk factors of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Europe during 1993-95, Lancet 351: 1081-1085;
	Ricketts MN et al: Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease transmitted in blood?, Energ Infect Dids 1997:3, 155-166; and
	Heye N et al: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and blood transfusion, Lancet 1994; 343; 298-299.
	These studies cover all types of CJD. Sporadic (classic) CJD, however, accounts for some 85 per cent of non-variant cases.
	The European Committee for Proprietory Medicinal Products (CPMP) reviewed the evidence in December 1995 and advised that there was no experimental or epidemiological evidence that classical CJD is transmitted by blood transfusions or plasma-derived products. A recall policy was not considered justified for plasma derived products from plasma pools incorporating a donation implicated for classical CJD. It reaffirmed that advice in March 1997. CPMP concluded on the basis of currently available information from epidemiological and experimental studies that there is no scientific justification for changing from the current CPMP position on classical CJD. CPMP further stated there to be no evidence that classical CJD is transmitted via blood or plasma derived products. This issue was also subsequently considered by the US Food and Drugs Administration, which came to the same conclusion.

New-variant CJD

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 27 March (WA 55-6), whether they will provide data on those who have died from, or been diagnosed with, new-variant CJD in the United Kingdom as to:
	(a) the status of nucleotide-21 preceding the prion ATG start codon;
	(b) the status of codons 26, 56 and 174 of doppel;
	(c) the dates of onset and confirmation for those patients diagnosed with new-variant CJD but still living;
	(d) the definition of "onset"; and
	(e) the age of the patients at onset to the nearest month.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The genetic information requested is not available. However, extensive studies of polymorphisms in and around the prion protein and doppel genes have been under way for some time at the St Mary's Prion Unit, London. The results of these investigations will be published in the scientific literature, subject to peer review, in due course.
	Confirmation of a diagnosis of vCJD is currently obtained by postmortem neuropathology. There are therefore no "confirmed" patients still living. The dates of onset for patients still living and defined as "probable" to the nearest month are as follows:
	November 1996
	February 1998
	June 1998
	July 1998
	July 1998
	October 1998
	February 1999
	March 1999
	April 1999
	May 1999
	May 1999
	June 1999
	"Onset" is defined by the National CJD Surveillance Unit as the timing and nature of the first symptoms reported by the patient's relatives and obtained from the patient's medical, psychiatric and general practitioner case notes. On average, some eight months elapse between date of onset and a patient being diagnosed "probable".
	Age at onset for the 12 probable vCJD patients who are still alive (years/months) is as follows:
	12 years 8 months
	15 years 10 months
	18 years 2 months
	19 years
	21 years 11 months
	22 years 9 months
	24 years 1 month
	25 years 1 month
	29 years 10 months
	30 years 4 months
	33 years 4 months
	36 years 7 months

New-variant CJD

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of new-variant CJD in humans have been strain-typed; and what were the results of these experiments.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The following two published papers address these questions:
	1. Transmissions to mice indicate that 'new variant' CJD is caused by the BSE agent (Bruce et al); and
	2. The same prion strain causes vCJD and BSE (Hill et al) (Nature, Vol 389, 2 October 1997). Further research is under way.

New-variant CJD

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any indications that there might be more than one strain of new-variant CJD in humans.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: New cases of all forms of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease are subject to close scrutiny by the National CJD Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh. There is currently no evidence of the existence of more than one strain of variant CJD in humans.

NHS: Allocation of Additional Funds and Hospices

Lord Hayhoe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any indication can be given to independent hospices of the extra funds which they will receive out of the extra £2 billion being allocated to the National Health Service as announced in the Budget Statement.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The additional moneys announced in the Budget will help the National Health Service to meet local pressures, to tackle waiting and to provide fair and convenient services. The first £600 million of new money for the NHS in England has already been allocated, improving the position of local services. Independent hospices as part of the local health community may benefit from this improved financial position, according to local needs and priorities.

Parents with Care: Maintenance Assessments

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of those parents with care in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance are calculated as being due to child support payments of £5 or less, £10 or less, £15 or less and above £15; and what those figures are expected to be under the system to be established under the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information is in the table.
	
		Number of parents with care who have maintenance assessments within the bands requested
		
			 Banded maintenance (£ per week) Current scheme maintenance New scheme maintenance 
			 £0.01 to £5.00 25,000 20,000 
			 £0.01 to £10.00 50,000 30,000 
			 £0.01 to £15.00 60,000 45,000 
			 £15.01 and above 130,000 145,000 
			 Total 190,000 190,000 
		
	
	Under the current child support scheme, children living in families on income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance do not see the benefit of any maintenance paid. But under the new scheme, with the introduction of the child maintenance premium, children for whom maintenance is paid stand to gain up to £10 per week.
	Notes.
	(1) Based on a new scheme start in April 2002.
	(2) Figures are rounded to nearest 5,000.
	(3) Includes only those parents with care where the non-resident parent is in paid employment.
	(4) Includes cases where the minimum liability (currently £5.20 and from 10 April £5.30) was less than £5 when they were assessed and where the liability has not subsequently been uprated. Flat rate liability under the new scheme will be £5.
	(5) Figures in the first three bands are cumulative.

Mersley Farm, Isle of Wight

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 31 January (WA 4), whether the Environment Agency has completed its investigations into pesticides incidents at Mersley Farm, Isle of Wight; if it has, whether it has decided to prosecute; and, if not, how much longer it anticipates the investigations will take.

Lord Whitty: The Environment Agency has carried out investigations at and around Mersley Farm and has removed pesticides which it considers to pose a pollution threat. So far the agency has found no evidence that pollution has occurred or that there is a basis for prosecution. As a precautionary measure the agency plans to install boreholes to monitor a nearby groundwater supply. The agency expects this work to begin in April and the results to be availble after 12 months.

DETR/National Assembly for Wales Concordat

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to publish a concordat with the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales.

Lord Whitty: We are pleased to say that we have now reached agreement with the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales on the terms of a concordat between us. This has been published, and copies have been placed in the House Library. The concordat will also be made available in due course on the department's website.

Pig Industry: Structural and Retirement Aid Packages

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the response of the European Commission to the National Pig Association's Meat and Livestock Commission's proposals for structural and retirement aid packages for the pig industry.

Baroness Hayman: As announced in the Action Plan for Farming on 30 March, the Government have lodged a pig industry restructuring scheme notification with the European Commission. The scheme includes both an outgoers and a restructuring element. Under state aid rules, the Commission must clear the scheme before it can be introduced and it has two months to respond to the notification. We still await the response, but the scheme will be introduced as soon as possible following Commission clearance.

BSE: Latest Statistics

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cattle born in the United Kingdom in each month since 1 January 1996 have died of BSE in each year since 1996, including the current year to date.

Baroness Hayman: In the UK to 10 April 2000 there has only been one case of BSE confirmed in an animal born on or after 1 January 1996. This animal was born in January 1996, slaughtered as a suspect in December 1999 and the disease confirmed in February 2000.

BSE: Strain-typing

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of BSE in cattle have been strain-typed; and what were the results of these experiments.

Baroness Hayman: Samples from the brains of nine cows with the natural BSE have been strained-typed in panels of mice. These all gave incubation periods and lesion profiles consistent with the presence of one strain of BSE. In addition, the lesion profiles within the brains of cattle with natural BSE have been monitored in birth year cohorts, starting with the 1992 cohort. The lesion profile in cattle has remained constant, indicating that only one strain is present.

Young People: Government Consultation Exercise

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the findings of the joint Women's Unit and Home Office's dialogue with young people.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: My right honourable friends Tessa Jowell and Paul Boateng launched Listen Up!, our report on the dialogue, yesterday. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The report describes a major consultation exercise with young people run by the National Youth Agency.
	This consultation was the first time in which government consulted young women and young men separately. The report sets out their views and concerns. It looks, in particular, at issues such as the importance of family and parenting; preparation for adult life, including school; careers choices; pressures to conform and self-esteem; vulnerability to risks; health and crime. The report considers the significance of gender differences and looks at ways of involving young people more as policies are developed. It sets out the government's response to the key concerns raised by young people, giving an outline of those areas where gender specific policies could make a difference.

Northern Ireland: Crime Prevention and Domestic Violence Strategy

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide funds for a crime prevention scheme and a programme for limiting domestic violence, both previously financed or planned by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Government are currently involved in the development of a community safety strategy for Northern Ireland. One of the aspects that the strategy will consider is the impact of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. Funding for programmes to tackle crime prevention and domestic violence will be considered as part of the strategy.

Northern Ireland Railways: EU Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What applications have been made for the European Union funding over the last 10 years for any aspect of activities of Northern Ireland Railways; what has been the amount sought; and what was the response.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The information sought is set out in the table below:
	
		Transportation Programme 1989-93
		
			 Projects Amount Sought Response 
			 Cross Harbour Rail Link(1) £16,552.500 Approved 
			 Great Victoria Street Station(1) £630,625.50 Approved 
			 Belfast/Dublin rail upgrade(1) £4,512,000 Approved 
			 Civil engineering plant £349,331.25 Approved 
			  
			 Total £22,044,483.75  
		
	
	
		Transportation Sub-Programme 1994-99
		
			 Project Amount Sought Response (approved/ project withdrawn) 
			 Great Victoria Street Station(1) £4,918,787 Approved 
			 Cross Harbour Rail Link(1) £7,043,348 Approved 
			 Belfast/Dublin rail upgrade(1) £38,388,000 Approved 
			 Rail vehicle transfer 
			 equipment £708,750 Approved 
			 Antrim/Bleach Green rail 
			 reinstatement £12,703,500 Approved 
			 Bangor line upgrade £7,169,250 Not yet approved 
			 Belfast Central Station 
			 refurbishment £991,136 Approved 
			 Tens Fail Feeder Lines study £60,000 Approved 
			 NITHC New Railway Station Study(2) £18,750 Approved 
			 A study of public transport 
			 options for the Belfast to 
			 Newtownards corridoor(1) £152,606.25 Approved 
			 Newry Railway Station £200,000 Withdrawn 
			  
			 Total £75,354,127.25  
			  
			 Overall Total £97,398,611.00  
		
	
	(1) Funded from both programmes.
	(2) Responsibility for project rests with NI Transport Holding Company.

Northern Ireland Railways: EU Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will outline the amount of support received from the European Union for Northern Ireland Railways per head of the population in Northern Ireland compared with the same calculation for the railway system in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: During the period 1989-99, the total amount of support received from the European Union for Northern Ireland Railways per head of the population in Northern Ireland was about £56. I understand that a comparable calculation for the railway system in the rest of the United Kingdom is not available.

County Down to Belfast Rapid Transit System Proposal

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the decision not to proceed with an expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to Belfast was announced; by what method; and which local bodies were informed.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Government have not made such a decision. However, given the current financial resources available for public transport in Northern Ireland, there are currently no plans to proceed with such a scheme.

County Down to Belfast Rapid Transit System Proposal

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of their decision not to proceed with an expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to Belfast, which alternatives are being considered to offer public transport to this growth area which would be in line with the policy to reduce car dependence.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The E-way proposal for a modern transit route on the Newtownards-Belfast Corridor has never been on a public transport implementation programme. Its current status is that of potential solution to present and future transportation difficulties on this corridor.
	However, the Draft Regional Strategic Framework and the comments of the panel that conducted its examination in public both stress the importance of a modern integrated sustainable transport system to the future development of Northern Ireland and the quality of life for all its citizens.
	The Department for Regional Development is responding to this challenge by preparing a transportation strategy that will identify how to make such a transport system a reality. In preparing this strategy consideration will be given to what such a transportation system would comprise, the establishment of corridor investment priorities and the manner in which projects and initiatives can be funded and implemented.

County Down to Belfast Rapid Transit System Proposal

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the detailed costs of the expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast upon which the decision was taken not to proceed; how the calculation were made and by whom.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: We understand from the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company that the overall capital cost for construction of the E-way scheme would be £15.6 million. Vehicle costs for the intitial fleet were estimated at £8.4 million. Cost data were derived from a variety of sources by W S Atkins Consultants Ltd. The Government have made no decision on this scheme. However, given the current financial resources available for public transport in Northern Ireland, there are currently no plans to proceed.

County Down to Belfast Rapid Transit System Proposal

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the response to the public consultation exercise concerning the express-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: We understand from the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company that the general response was positive.